The action is going ahead after Mr Justice Lavender dismissed an application on Wednesday by Thomas Cook to obtain an injunction stopping the action after the company unsuccessfully argued that the ballot was invalid.

Balpa general secretary Brian Strutton said: "Balpa has always been confident in the decisive ballot result and was disappointed that Thomas Cook decided to challenge it legally rather than spending time and effort bringing an acceptable offer to the table.

"We have taken this course of action extremely reluctantly, but with no sensible pay offer on the table, we have no other option. Thomas Cook pilots have faced year-on-year, real-terms pay cuts, and cuts to terms and conditions, and our pilots have said 'enough is enough'.

"We have, however, kept this action to a minimum - just 12 hours. Thomas Cook have stated that all of its flights will operate - we hope that this is true, as Thomas Cook's customers are not to blame for this action.

Just a few hours away from the first @BALPApilots strike in around 40 years. We stand behind our Thomas Cook colleagues.

"But we also believe that if Thomas Cook had spent time negotiating rather than rearranging schedules, this action may well have been unnecessary.

"We remain committed to finding a solution to this dispute which will mean Thomas Cook putting forward a pay offer that their pilots can accept."

A Thomas Cook Airlines spokesman said: "Our priority is to make sure all of our customers can still fly on holiday and back home with us during the strike period and we are pleased to confirm that our flights on September 8 will operate."

Union members voted by 9-1 to take action (PA)

Thomas Cook offered a 1.5% pay rise, which Mr Strutton said was changed to 4% over two years during talks at the conciliation service.

The union is seeking a one year deal "substantially" in excess of the RPI inflation rate.

Thomas Cook has published a revised schedule for Friday.

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